Home Blog Page 84

Latest Polls Show Trump Pulling Away From The Rest Of The GOP Field

-
0

Donald Trump continues to gain support in his bid to become President of the United States. According to a new CNN/ORC Poll, Trump has become the first Republican candidate to achieve more than 30% support. With this increase in support, Trump is pulling away from the rest of the other GOP candidates.

Since August, Trump has gained 8 points, and he currently sits at 32%. His support has tripled since he launched his campaign last June.

Former neurosurgeon Ben Carson is in second place at 19%, rising 10 points. Former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush sits at 9%, down 4 points. Ted Cruz is in fourth at 7%. Mike Huckabee and Scott Walker are tied at 5%. Every other Republican candidate has 3% or less.

Trump’s increase in support comes from groups that had been difficult for him in the early portions of his campaign.

These groups include women and people with college degrees. He only gained 4 points among men from last month, but he’s up 13 points among women. Currently, 31% of men and 33% of women support Trump. Meanwhile the percent of people with college degrees who support Trump rose from 16% in August to 28% now. He also has the support from 33% of individuals without college degrees.

Another noteworthy statistic is that Trump has the support from 41% of Republicans who support the tea party movement, leading all Republican candidates by a large margin.

Carson’s increase in support has mostly come through core partisans. Since August, he is up 13 points among Republicans and 11 points among conservatives. He has the support of 28% of white evangelicals. Republicans are also very enthusiastic about the idea of Carson leading the GOP ticket. Currently, 43% of Republicans say they would be enthusiastic if Carson became the Republican presidential candidate. Meanwhile, Trump sits at 40%. Only 20% of Republicans say they would be disappointed if Carson was chosen, while 32% say the same about Trump.

Most Republican voters believe that Trump will become the GOP winner. Currently, 51% of Republicans believe Trump will win. This figure is well-above every other candidate. Second place is Jeb Bush at 19%, and third place is Carson at 11%. Notably, Scott Walker sat at 14% in July. That figure has since been reduced to just 1%.

If things continue the way they are, it appears very likely that Donald Trump will be representing the Republican Party in the 2016 presidential election. However, the former businessman will have to fend off Ben Carson and other challengers first.

50 Defense Department Analysts Claim CENTCOM Leaders Altered ISIS Reports To Show Military Progress When None Existed

-
0

Over 50 intelligence analysts working in the U.S. military’s central command have complained that reports on ISIS and Al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, Al-Nusra, are being doctored to fit a national narrative. The analysts, armed with substantive evidence, could pop holes in the U.S. military’s credibility in the war against terror. It could also redefine U.S involvement in Syria completely.

The complaints by over 50 military intelligence analysts compelled the Pentagon’s inspector general to open an investigation into reports doctoring at the military command. Two senior officials at CENTCOM, the U.S military’s command for the Middle East and Central Asia, signed the report and are the ones formally lodging it while over 50 analysts said they were ready to substantiate the report and all its concerns.

The analysts have complained of the politicizing of reports since last October. Authorities within CENTCOM’s command affirmed that the concerns were first leveled internally. Those who complained were either urged to retire early or urged to leave. It was then that they resorted to lodging a complaint to the inspector general.

In the report, details emerge of how key elements of reports were removed, resulting in documents that were incomplete and incomprehensive. Other details depict a structural fault in the command chain where documents that had a pessimistic view of the war in Syria were either passed back down the chain for a more favorable spinning or were simply not moved up the chain.

The analysts felt there was too much pressure to present a national-policy-friendly assessment of the situation in Syria, meaning they could not give a candid analysis of the war. Many attributed it to commanders seeking to protect their career advancement through placing spins on the wars.

The manipulated reports were not the only cause for alarm for the analysts. Some have described the working conditions within the U.S. military command as strained. Complaints on the unprofessional work environment set by CENTCOM superiors have been lodged, even terming some of the commanders as “Stalinist.”

Speaking on the recent report, CENTCOM Air Force Col. Patrick Ryder said, “While we cannot comment on the specific investigation cited in the article, we can speak to the process. The Intelligence Community routinely provides a wide range of subjective assessments related to the current security environment. Senior civilian and military leadership consider these assessments during planning and decision-making, along with information gained from various other sources, to include the insights provided by commanders on the ground and other key advisors, intelligence collection assets, and previous experience.”

The presentation of manipulated intel would therefore go a long way in sabotaging the war on terror from within.

ISIS is spreading to large parts of Syria while Al Nusra recently captured the last Syrian military airbase in Idlib province northwest of Syria. The narrative back home is different. According to John Allen, retired Major general charged with spearheading the ISIS campaign, “ISIS is losing.” Emphasis on the right intel, rather than cherry picked reports, is required to win the war on terror.

Al Qaeda Magazine Calls For Lone Wolf Attacks On America’s Billionaires

-
0
Al Qaeda Magazine Calls For Lone Wolf Attacks On America’s Billionaires

Al Qaeda is now urging lone wolf terror attacks on America’s billionaires and industrialists. Borrowing a page from rival radical Islamists ISIS, Al Qaeda is urging American jihadists to attack U.S. market leaders to permanently damage the US. economy.

The notorious Al Qaeda magazine Inspire published an article urging attacks on U.S. market leaders starting with billionaires Bill Gates (Microsoft), Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway) and Michael Bloomberg (Bloomberg).

The article proceeded to list other terror targets in the form of internet entrepreneur Larry Ellison, industrialist brothers David and Charles Koch, casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, federal reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, Walmart heir Jim Walton and several other misspelled names of prominent economists.

The horrid article began with a photo illustration depicting the “economic personalities” and “wealthy entrepreneurs” splattered with blood next to dripping guns. The article proceeded to urge attacks on these personalities with the sole purpose of derailing the “revival of the American economy.”

The article said that the only way these personalities would get off the list was if they withdrew all their money from U.S. banks, invested their wealth outside the U.S. and withdrew their support for Israel.

NBC news counter terrorism analyst Evan Kohlman revealed there was indeed a link between the magazine articles and recent lone wolf attacks in the west. Kohman said, “There is compelling evidence from the Boston Marathon bombings and other various thwarted terror plots that homegrown jihadists have specifically looked to the magazine for guidance on what targets to attack — and have taken that advice quite literally.”

Inspire magazine is published online by the Al Qaeda from the Arabian peninsula. It was once edited by U.S. raised jihadist Samir Khan, killed in a 2011 drone attack with cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.

The magazine is best known for the article, “How To Make A Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom,” providing a recipe for making explosives.

The recent listing of target U.S. economists is not the first one to be published. Inspire 13, back in Dec. 2014, also featured Bernanke and Gates.

Al Qaeda is borrowing a leaf from ISIS and placing more emphasis on lone wolf attacks in the U.S. Through the attacks, the terror organization seeks to permanently damage the U.S. economy and its people’s source of livelihood, something that must never happen.

Justice Department Claims It Will Now Jail Crooked Wall Street CEOs But Will It Actually?

-
0
Justice Department Claims It Will Now Jail Crooked Wall Street CEOs But Will It Actually?

The U.S Justice Department has outlined back breaking guidelines on the prosecution of corporate executives in criminal matters. Long condemned for their lackluster lenience in going after Wall Street executives, the department is now launching an improved plan to better bring company executives to book for their roles in financial fraud.

A memo to federal prosecutors outlined a change of policy by the Justice Department with regard to the prosecution of company executives. The policy marks the first major announcement by Attorney general Loretta E. Lynch since taking over in April.

Deputy Attorney general and author of the memo, Sally Q. Yates, said on Wednesday, “Corporations can only commit crimes through flesh-and-blood people. It’s only fair that the people who are responsible for committing those crimes be held accountable. The public needs to have confidence that there is one system of justice and it applies equally regardless of whether that crime occurs on a street corner or in a boardroom.”

Previously, the Justice department only went after companies and turned its heads to business executives once corporate settlements were made. More often than not, this meant the executives went scot free.

The memo though limited in reach, can erase a few barriers in the prosecution of fraudulent executives who hide behind their companies. It instructs criminal investigators to narrow down to individual employees from the beginning. Also, in company settlements, corporates will not be able to get credit for their cooperation unless they specifically identify errant employees and provide evidence against them. The evidence will include all employees “regardless of their position, status or seniority.”

The credits offered to companies can save them from paying billions of dollars and are often the difference between a criminal and civil charge. Yates said, “We mean it when we say, ‘You have got to cough up the individuals.”

Yates also affirmed that the Justice Department would not be settling for low level employees used as fall guys for the big executives. “We’re not going to be accepting a company’s cooperation when they just offer up the vice president in charge of going to jail.”

The policy paper, a tacit acknowledgement of criticism for corporate leniency, has been criticized by analysts for being more symbolic than substantive. University of Virginia law professor Brandon L. Garrett said, “It’s a good memo, but it states what should have been the policy for years. And without more resources, how are prosecutors going to know whether companies are still burying information about their employees?”

The need for corporate’s responsibility over their actions cannot be understated especially since their actions or inactions do have disastrous effects. After the 2008 financial crisis, not a single Wall Street executive was jailed, despite the economy reeling in debt years afterwards. The new emphasis on culpable individuals by the justice department will mean getting to the culprits behind the big doors and not merely settling for ineffective settlements.

Meet BlaBlaCar, The Billion Dollar Ride Sharing Giant That’s Actually Legal

-
0
Meet BlaBlaCar, The Billion Dollar Ride Sharing Giant That’s Actually Legal

BlaBlaCar is taking over the world of ride sharing right under the noses of Uber and Lyft. The ride sharing service, which many have never heard of, is making headlines across Europe and Asia where Uber is either struggling to find its footing or facing attacks by disgruntled taxi unions and government backed transport industries.

The emerging service marks a new dawn in ride sharing that’s free of regulatory, pricing and safety concerns.

The long distance ride sharing app is raising another round of investment capital through Insight venture partners. The France based service, which only last year completed a $100 million mega investment round, seeks to raise $160 million in the latest round, setting its valuation at $1.2 billion.

The new Series D round will see more foreign investors jump in on the rising service. Currently, investors in the company include Accel Partners, Index Venture, Lead Edge Capital and ISAI.

BlaBlacar is an app-based platform where commuters can book seats next to drivers driving to long distance cities.

Simply put, it connects people with empty car seats, taking a small cut on every empty seat, like Airbnb. The service offers a cost sharing model where instead of the driver seeking a profit, he and the commuters simply share the cost of transportation. The company sets caps on the prices of distances. An average ride is 200 miles with the fare capped at $25.

This strategy, similar to Google’s RideWith project, puts it solidly on-side with regulators.

BlaBlaCar COO Nicolas Brusson, said of their service, “What we’re doing is building a massive transport network out of all of these empty seats in cars. There are more seats available between Berlin and Munich in cars, for example, than there are train seats or bus seats.”

The company, founded in 2006 in France by Stanford educated Frederic Mazzella, branched out of France in 2012 and now operates in 17 countries including Mexico and India. It has over 9 million registered users with over a million people using its service every day.

The company is growing by 200 per cent every year. In its first year in Germany, it had registered over 1 million users while its Russian entry completely blew up with 250,000 registrations in three months.

Brusson said, “What we’re building is more fundamental than what we’re doing in France. If you look at Russia and Turkey and other emerging markets, we start linking cities that don’t even have trains. We are enabling a layer of infrastructure that isn’t there.”

The service has also been acquiring competition such as Carpooling.com, with its 6 million members, Postoinauto in Italy and Ukraine’s Podorozhniki. The company is now focused on heavier international expansion in the coming months.

Through the fee model, the service has been able to expand without the plague of disrupting taxi unions and established transport industries, unlike Uber and co.

All over Europe and China, Uber is the subject of protests, even attacks, and has been banned in Seoul and regulated in Germany. Lyft is struggling to get approval in New York.

The new round of funding will financially enable the BlaBlaCar to spread its wings much wider across the globe. This will definitely mean trouble for America’s Uber and China’s Didi Kuaidi, who have a much different model that is profit based and is extravagant for many travellers.

New York City Restaurants Must Now Post Warnings About Salt Content

-
0

In New York, chain restaurants are now required to post a warning on menus when their foods contain high levels of salt. The mandate was unanimously approved the Board of Health on Wednesday. The requirement applies to any food establishment with at least 15 locations nationwide. The purpose of this mandate is to reduce high blood pressure, which causes an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, and is directly linked to salt intake.

The Health Department said in a statement, “High sodium intake is dangerous. With a simple menu icon and statement to alert restaurant customers which items have exceedingly high sodium, New Yorkers will have easily accessible information.”

With the decision, applicable New York restaurants are now required to identify any menu items which contain more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium. This value represents the recommended daily limit. Any dish that exceeds the limit will be required to have a warning label.

The mandate falls in line with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s commitment to making strides towards a healthier eating environment. Blasio is continuing an effort started by former mayor Michael Bloomberg, who notably banned trans fats and mandated that calorie counts be placed on the menus of chain restaurants.

Yet Blasio’s policies transcend beyond those of Bloomberg.

Not everyone is happy with the new mandate. The restaurant industry has critiqued the measure, stating that it is costly and unnecessary. Spokesman for the New York State Restaurant Association Kevin Dugan has stated that the group has yet to decide as to whether or not they will appeal the new policy.

Chief executive officer of the association Melissa Fleishut said, “This is just the latest in a long litany of superfluous hoops that restaurants here in New York must jump through. Every one of these cumbersome new laws makes it tougher and tougher for restaurants to find success.”

Currently one in every three deaths in New York City is the result of heart disease. The issue is particularly alarming for African-Americans, as 36% of black adults have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. This rate is 50% higher than for whites according to surveys from the health department.

Additionally, as a part of the Affordable Care Act, new federal regulations will soon require chains of twenty restaurants or more to offer various nutritional information, such as calorie counts to customers. However, the FDA delayed the implementation of this new law until the completion of the 2016 presidential election.

State Department Hires 50 Dedicated Staffers To Investigate Clinton Emails

-
0

U.S. state department has announced it will move 50 workers into temporary jobs to boost investigations into Hillary Clinton’s emails. The state department’s addition of more staff to examine Clinton’s emails follows the first ever public apology from the Democratic candidate over her misfeasance as the Secretary of State.

In short, things appear to be heating up for Hillary.

It was revealed on Wednesday that the State Department would be recruiting more staff to handle the huge number of Clinton’s emails. The notice entitled “Enhancing Transparency: Immediate Detail Opportunities At State” called upon staffers to apply for reassignment for 9 to 12 months. The applications are to be made by Thursday and selection commences on Sept. 18.

The move signals the administrative burden caused by having to analyze each email personally on its own merit and determine whether it is indeed deserving of confidentiality.

The analysis of the emails follows a ruling by a court that the emails be released on the basis of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The extra staff would be joining a 20 member permanent staff and a 30 member temporary staff at the state department. They will work on the court ordered release of the emails monthly to separate the emails that would be released and those that would be too sensitive security wise to have released. They would also be in charge of any FOIA requests regarding Clinton’s emails.

Clinton’s email scandal has refused to die a natural death and only grows larger and seemingly more fatal for her campaign with her every denial of its illegality. Finally, in a taped broadcast to the American people on NBC News on Tuesday, Clinton offered an apology for her using of a private server to send confidential state security emails during her time as Secretary of State.

Clinton said, “That was a mistake. I’m sorry about that.” Clinton also admitted to erring in not making an apology earlier on in March, when the scandal broke.

Clinton’s email problems have plagued her candidacy and played against her in the hearts of her so called everyday Americans. A recent poll by Quinnipiac University shows 60 per cent of Americans viewed Clinton as not honest against a mere 34 per cent that did.

The increased exposure being given to Clinton’s emails is hurting the Democratic front runner badly. Though an apology would quell the storm, it may be a little too late with the federal courts ordering the release of her emails to the public. As federal investigations continue. her case will simultaneously be judged in the court of public opinion. American voters are patiently waiting for the contents of the former secretary of state’s emails from where they will adjudge her guilty or innocent.

Russia Now Has Ground Forces And Armored Vehicles In Syria With Fighter Planes On The Way

-
0

According to Lebanese sources, Russian forces have started participating in military operations in Syria in support of the government troops of Assad. Additionally, two United States officials recently stated that Russia has sent two tank landing ships plus an additional aircraft to Syria, while also deploying a small number of naval infantry forces.

It remains unclear as to what exactly is the intent of Russia’s military involvement in Syria. However, initial indications suggest that Russia is focused on preparing an airfield near Latakia. The port city of Latakia is an Assad stronghold.

The forces of Assad’s government have experienced significant setbacks during a four year old civil war that has taken about 250,000 lives and forced roughly half of Syria’s population of 23 million people out of their homes.

Russia has confirmed that has “experts” in Syria, but the country has refused to comment on the specific scale and scope of its involvement. According to one Syrian official, the presence of such Russian “experts” has increased in the past year. United States officials have also stated that they have reason to believe that Russia is aiding Assad’s forces.

Officials in the United States, which is fighting an air war against the Islamist militant group Islamic State in Syria and also opposes Assad’s government, have said in recent days that they suspect Russia is reinforcing to aid Assad.

Russia’s only naval base within the Mediterranean is at Tartous on the Syrian coast. Such territory is held by Assad. Maintaining its security is extremely important for the country. Two Lebanese sources went on to say that Russia is attempting to establish two additional bases in Syria. One of which is near the coast, while the other is further inland to be used as an operations base. However, another Lebanese source claims that Russia’s combat role in Syria is still very small and that Russia has yet to fully join the “war on terrorism”.

Citing concern by western countries, Germany’s foreign minister issued a warning to Russia against increased military involvement in Syria. The German foreign minister stated that the Iran nuclear deal and new United Nations initiatives provided a starting point for conflict solution. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg agrees that Russia’s military activity in Syria is concerning.

Rebel fighters, ranging from Sunni Islamists like al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, the Nusra Front, to more secular nationalists, have been making gains in the northwest and southwest of Syria. These rebel fighters often go into combat against both the Syrian government and Islamic State fighters who control much of east Syria and northern Iraq.

Russia says that the Syrian government must be involved in a global fight against Islamic State. The United States and Assad’s regional foes view Russia as part of the problem. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that they would consider further military measures to combat terrorism in Syria if deemed necessary.

However, United States officials are worried that Russia might quickly become heavily involved in the Syrian situation. Certain preparatory steps have been observed, including the transport of prefabricated housing units for hundreds of people to a Syrian airfield. This suggests that Russia is preparing for deployment of heavy military equipment to Syria.

Russia has recently begun making the case for supporting Assad, comparing the western approach in Syria to failures in Iraq and Libya. One issue of the diplomatic debate concerns the use of airspace for flights. Russia claims it is offering humanitarian air, but United States officials suspect Russia is bringing military supplies. For instance, Russia has avoided flying over Turkey, which is one of Assad’s primary enemies. Instead, Russia has been flying over Balkan states. This suggests that Russia is trying to hide something.

Bulgaria denied a Russian request on Tuesday to utilize its airspace for flights. The Bulgarian government had doubts about the cargo on board the planes. On Wednesday, Bulgaria stated that it would only allow Russian supply flights to Syria to utilize its airspace if they could perform cargo checks at a Bulgarian airport.

On Tuesday Bulgaria refused a Russian request to use its airspace for flights due to doubts about the cargo on board. It said on Wednesday it would allow Russian supply flights to Syria to use its airspace only if Moscow agreed to checks of their cargo at a Bulgarian airport.

Meanwhile, Turkey has not officially banned Russia from utilizing its airspace for flights to Syria. However, the country considers any requests to use its airspace for flights to Syria on a case by case basis.

Researchers Find Stunning Evidence Alzheimer’s Can Be Spread During Surgical Procedures

-
0

A new study suggests that Alzheimer’s disease can potentially be transferred from one person to another during medical procedures. According to the study proteins of the disease can potentially attach to surgical instruments and be transmitted between individuals.

The findings are the first of dementia transmission in humans through microscopic protein fragments. The findings have led to public concern over the safety of certain medical procedures, most notably dental treatments. Researchers also suggest investigating blood procedures as a precaution.

The discovery was made by British scientists who were investigating a rare form of “iatrogenic” Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (iCJD), a disease which destroys the brain and has been known to be spread by using contaminated surgical instruments.

The scientists were inspecting the brains of eight patients who had died from iCJD. They were surprised to find that six of the patients bore a clear molecular sign of Alzheimer’s disease. The evidence suggests that Alzheimer’s carrying proteins had been transferred into the brains of the patients, along with iCJD.

Such proteins are known to stick to metal surfaces and resist conventional sterilization. However, it is unknown if the patients would have eventually developed the disease had they been alive.

Previous experiments involving laboratory mice and monkeys have shown that the transmission of the Alzheimer’s protein is possible in theory. Liquefied brain tissue from deceased Alzheimer’s patients was injected into the central nervous system of the animals. After the procedure took place, the animals developed brain changes that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

With these findings, dental procedures are of a particular concern. Director of the Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London Professor John Collinge said, “The seeds will potentially stick to metal surfaces whatever the instrument is. With prions, we know quite a lot about that. Certainly, there are potential risks with dentistry where it’s impacting on nervous tissue, for example root canal treatment, and special precautions are taken with reamers that are used in root canal treatment for that reason, in the UK at least.”

Collinge went on to add that there was no epidemiological evidence that suggested that Alzheimer’s could transferred through blood transfusions. That being said, he believes that the issue is worth examining further.

However, Collinge seemed to somewhat backtrack on his statements on dental treatments. He stated, “Our findings relate to the specific circumstance of cadaver-derived human growth hormone injections, a treatment that was discontinued many years ago. It is possible our findings might be relevant to some other medical or surgical procedures, but evaluating what risk, if any, there might be requires much further research.”

Collinge went on to stress that people should not be concerned about upcoming medical procedures and that Alzheimer’s is not contagious in the same way as other illnesses, such as the flu. According to the doctor, one cannot obtain Alzheimer’s by simply living with someone who has the disease or by being a caretaker.

Chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies also attempted to reassure the public. She said, “This was a small study on only eight samples. We monitor research closely and there is a large research program in place to help us understand and respond to the challenges of Alzheimer’s. I can reassure people that the NHS has extremely stringent procedures in place to minimize infection risk from surgical equipment, and patients are very well protected.”

Despite the reassurances from the doctors, there remains concern that Alzheimer’s protein seeds could be transmitted in a similar method as CJD prions. However, chief scientist at the charity Alzheimer’s Research UK Dr. Eric Karran remains unconvinced. He says, “The biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s is age, along with genetic and lifestyle factors. If further research was to confirm a link between historical tissue contamination and Alzheimer’s, it would only likely be relevant to a tiny proportion of the total number of people affected.”

The British Dental Association’s scientific adviser Professor Damien Walmsley continues to maintain faith in British dental practices, stating, “Dentists take patient safety very seriously and follow strict protocols to protect patients from the risk of infections, however slight that risk may be. These protocols were strengthened in 2007 when a UK-wide restriction on the re-use of files that come into contact with nervous tissue during root canal treatments was put in place. These measures make dentistry one of the safest areas of healthcare.”

U.S. Now Eying Criminal Charges Against State Sponsored Chinese Hackers

-
0

President Barack Obama’s administration is poised to make both financial sanctions and criminal indictments against Chinese citizens for cybercrime activity barely a few days before Chinese president Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington.

The measures seek to deter the Chinese authorities from the continued sanctioning of cyber attacks on American companies, a practice that has led to the stealing of billions of dollars worth of trade secrets and classified government information.

Obama’s administration, in their strongest move against Chinese cyber criminals, is weighing both financial sanctions and indictments against guilty Chinese cyber hackers. The move towards criminal prosecution is an elevation in positioning and shows the U.S. is set to get tough on cyber activity that could lead to all out war.

Recent attacks, including a hack against the Office of Personnel Management, have been traced to China. However, Obama’s administration has thus far been dismal in their response, only relegated to blanket condemnations targeted at general groups.

Intelligence and law enforcement experts have come out to favor the aggressive modes of action to deter further online espionage activity by the Chinese.

However, both White House and State Department officials have chosen a more conservative approach, particularly since China’s president Xi Jinping is making a state visit this week.

U.S. officials in charge of relations between the two countries have confirmed the investigations on Chinese nationals ahead of a decision on whether to issue the indictments for cybercrime. The charges, criminal in nature, will target the individuals’ roles in stealing trade secrets and intellectual property worth billions.

The investigations follow an announcement by assistant attorney general for national security John Carlin who said last year, “We will continue to bring these types of cases. We would not stand idly by as people hauled away our wealth in trucks. Likewise, we cannot allow it to be sucked out through the Internet.”

Analysts have viewed the sanctions as a must-happen, citing that Obama’s lackluster anything-goes attitude with the Chinese has led to increased attacks on America’s online soil.

Scott Kennedy, a professor at Washington University, said “The Chinese figured out that the Obama administration had no red line and they would pay no cost for anything while Obama was still in office. And so they became much more assertive in the South China Seas and cyberspace and in a variety of different areas.”

An implementation of such sanctions would, however, be limited in two aspects.

One, they would only be symbolic as China would never allow the extradition of its citizens. The proposed measures would only show Obama’s administration as toughening up on Beijing, serving an incidental deterrent purpose.

Kennedy said, “They’re hoping that by at least pulling out the baseball bat they might not have to swing it.”

The second deterrent would be that China would surely react proportionately to such sanctions. If Obama sanctioned Chinese companies, Chinese authorities would do the same to U.S. companies in their communist territory. This would compromise U.S. companies already straining under tight operational leashes in the Chinese mainland.

Washington, very much aware of these realities, is nonetheless showing more readiness to implement the sanctions. According to Ken Lieberthal, senior at Brookings institution, “The president has made very clear privately and publicly a deep concern and anger over the massive theft of intellectual property from U.S. firms and the use of that information to the advantage of Chinese firms.”

Getty Images Tries To Sue Famed Hacker Magazine Over Content It Has No Copyright Over

-
0

Notorious copyright troll Getty Images has once again been caught making illegitimate claims of copyright infringement. Yet unlike most small businesses and individual users it usually targets with its big lawyers the target this time is famed hacker publication 2600.

Getty subsidiary Trunk Archive has claimed that 2600 was infringing one of its images, yet when the claim was analyzed it turns out Getty has made a claim of copyright infringement on a picture it stole from someone else.

Making the case more ridiculous is the fact the claim itself is invalid on several levels above and beyond Getty trying to claim infringement on something it doesn’t in fact own.

One reason the claim is illegitimate is that the statute of limitations on copyright in the United State is only three years. Trunk Archive filed its claim in August of 2015, which is too late to file a claim.

Furthermore, the images look nothing alike. Getty’s complaint concerns a small section of ink splotches in the corner of the “offending” image. Being such a small section of this picture, which contains other imagery, it is a textbook example of a transformative work. Such works, where an element is used and combined with other elements, are explicitly exempted from claims of infringement.

Making matters worse for Getty is the fact that Getty doesn’t even hold the copyright for the offending splotches. The artist responsible for creating the 2600 cover made a note that he was utilizing a splotch painting from a Finnish artist who is referred to by his username “Loadus” on Deviant Art. Any copyright belongs to Loadus and not the Getty photographer.

The case is ironic as Getty is blatantly trying to extort people into paying for images when they have no right to do so.

While this may seem like a minor mix up, it is important to call attention to such cases of abuse. Getty operates one of the world’s largest copyright extortion rackets, where its computers scour the internet and file automated claims of infringement based on dubious evidence.

The case is also important because if transformative artists continue to be threatened, it can bring art and creativity to a grinding halt, causing a severe disruption to creative expression.

Yet due to Getty’s massive size, political influence and poorly written laws it is able to get away with such industrial scale abuse.

In fact the laws are so poorly written that there is no punishment for abusing the law in such a manner and many people are forced to simply pay up in order to avoid the legal fees of defending themselves.

2600 has stated they intend to fight the claim and have posted a full response to the extortion threat here.

In Response To CNN Charging Advertisers 40x More For Debate, Trump Requests All Profits Be Donated To Veterans

-
0

Presidential candidate Donald Trump is encouraging CNN president Jeff Zucker to donate the profits from next week’s Republican presidential debate to veteran’s charities. Trump made the request in a letter to Zucker Wednesday morning.

In the letter, Trump referenced reports showing that the estimated ad revenue of CNN has greatly increased since the first debate, which was hosted by Fox News and attracted a record 24 million viewers.

Trump wrote, “While I refuse to brag, and as you know very well, this tremendous increase in viewer interest and advertising is due 100% to ‘Donald J. Trump.”

A report from AdAge indicates that CNN is charging advertisers 40 times its normal rate for ads to air during the debate. CNN announced on Wednesday that it plans to livestream the complete debate online. This will allow for increased opportunity for advertisers to reach what is widely expected to be a large audience, perhaps even record-breaking.

In his letter, Trump referenced his work on the NBC show, “The Apprentice”. Trump claimed that his show was “virtually the easiest show to sell to advertisers on television, and at extraordinary rates.” It is noteworthy that Zucker was working at NBC at the time, and he was the person responsible for putting “The Apprentice” on television.

Trump continued to write, “I am self-funding my campaign. I do not want money from lobbyists, donors or special interest groups. Likewise, you should view the second debate broadcast as a public service and not accept the massive profits that this airing will generate. I believe all profits from this broadcast should go to various veterans groups, a list of which I will send to you in the near future. This large contribution of many millions of dollars would be a truly wonderful thing for CNN to do.”

CNN has yet to comment on the issue.

Al Qaeda Sponsored Insurgents Overrun Key Syrian Air Base As Government Forces Continue To Retreat

-
0

Al Qaeda linked insurgents have seized the last Syrian government air base in the northwestern province of Idlib. The air base, which offered the last resort for the Syrian military against the rebels, fell to the rebels recently and has left the province and all its occupants at the mercies of the terror militias.

Syrian state TV said on Wednesday that the Abu al-Duhur air base had been evacuated in the wake of increased attacks from rebels. After a two year standoff with the rebels, the air base, which was the final army garrison in the region, has been evacuated.

The withdrawal of Syria’s forces from the region follows the seizure of major towns in the province by a rebel alliance of various Islamist groups named the Army of Conquest. The group includes Al-Qaeda affiliate Nusra Front.

The alliance took control of Idlib’s capital Idlib City early on in March and proceeded on a sustained offensive in other towns.

The rebels took advantage of bad weather, which included blinding sand storms, to launch an aggressive attack on the air base. Sustained suicide attacks gave them control of the entrance and several other key positions. In a few days, the base was all but lost.

London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Wednesday that the Syrian military had completely abandoned Idlib province. State officials reported that only the predominantly Shia villages of Kfarya and Foua which were led by Lebanese Hezbollah forces remained independent of rebel control.

Arab affairs analyst Sebastian Usher credited the success of the rebel alliance to increased sponsoring from backers Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar.

Syria was thrust into a civil war after anti-government protests four years ago turned violent and the government began a crackdown on dissent. Since then, rebel militia, terror groups including ISIS, the Kurds and government forces have faced off consistently, leading to the deaths of over 240,000 lives and the displacement of thousands more. A majority of whom are now flooding Europe for safety.

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has himself admitted that his government is facing a shortage of military men and that he would have to sacrifice less important towns for more important ones.

Syria’s crisis is worsening by the setting of every sunset. Just when ISIS is perceived the main threat, other equally deadly terror organizations crop up, seizing swaths of land using brute force and intimidation. Syria’s regime has failed to maintain peace for its people. Only the international community can provide a long lasting solution at this point.

Canada Just Cut Off Vital Water Supplies To Severely Curb Fracking

-
0

Canadian fracking firm Nexen had its water use license cancelled by the BC Environmental Appeal Board (BCEA )in a potentially precedent-setting decision. BCEA cited Nexen’s fundamentally flawed science and its failure to consult in good faith with the nearby Aboriginal community known as the Fort Nelson First Nations.

Prior to the decision, Nexen was allowed to pump over 49 million cubic feet of water per year from Tsea Lake and the Tsea River. The company claimed that the water used at their operation would not cause adverse environmental effects, but in their decision BCEA stated, “The evidence before the panel established that excessive water withdrawals may cause adverse effects on the habitat of aquatic and riparian species, including species that the First Nation depend on for the exercise of their treaty rights.”

Nexen will be able to use the remaining water that it has accumulated prior to the decision.

Fort Nelson chief Liz Logan commented on the decision, “Our members have always used the Tsea Lake area in our territory to hunt, trap and live on the land. The company pumped water out of the lake, even during drought conditions.”

Nexen is actually owned by Chinese oil giant CNOOC Ltd., which is China’s largest producer of offshore crude and natural gas. The company has encountered other legal troubles in Canada this year, with recently issued suspension orders on 25% of operations at its Long Lake facility in Alberta, for failure to comply with regulations. The suspension followed a rupture at the same facility in July, which is what first drew the attention of regulators.

The Nexen decision comes amid a rising trend of increased scrutiny on fracking operations in Canada, with Quebec and New Brunswick having placed temporary bans on the technology. These were implemented due to the heavy water consumption of the practice, as well as increased hospitalization rates of those living near fracking areas.

Because energy prices have dropped dramatically in the past year, Nexen representatives stated that their development plans had already been largely scaled back, lessening the impact of the board’s decision. Fracking operations in the U.S. have similarly slowed, but other fracking firms in Canada like Suncor Energy and ConocoPhillips are continuing to move ahead with their nearly finished sites in a move that will maintain downward pressure on energy prices.

Denmark Closes All Rail Lines To Germany As European Refugee Crisis Intensifies

-
0

Denmark today cut off all rail links with Germany and shut down sections of highways, after refugees crossed the border with Germany and began heading north towards Sweden.

Meanwhile in southern Hungary, which is reeling from the effects of thousands of refugees entering the country illegally, refugees on the border with Serbia broke through police lines closing the M5 highway. Hungry is being used as a staging post by the refugees on their journey for a supposed better life in Europe and Scandinavia.

The two incidents occurred just as European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker put forward plans which he claims will offer Europe a “swift, determined and comprehensive” response to its refugee crisis.  The plan has 120,000 asylum seekers being distributed amongst European Union (EU) countries with binding quotas.

Saying it was “not a time to take fright”, Juncker announced his  plans in a “state of the Union” annual address which comes hot on the heels of thousands of refugees, mainly from Syria, entering Europe in recent days, with more headed that way.

Germany, the destination point for many of the refugees, supports quotas, while some EU countries are against any compulsory system.

Juncker opened his speech will a criticism of the European Union saying it was “not in a good situation. There is a lack of Europe in this union, and a lack of union in this union”.

He went on to say that tackling the refugee crisis was “a matter of humanity and human dignity. It is true that Europe cannot house all the misery in the world. But we have to put it into perspective. This still represents just 0.11% of the EU population. In Lebanon refugees represent 25% of the population.”

Under Juncker’s plans the number of refugees allocated to each EU country would depend on population, GDP, number of asylum applications already processed, and unemployment rate. He said EU countries that refused to take in refugees could face fines.

Juncker’s plan includes:

  • A relocation system to “deal with crisis situations more swiftly in the future
  • The European Commission to compile a list of “safe countries” where some refugees would have to return
  • Strengthening  the EU’s asylum system
  • Strengthening management of borders and legal migration channels.

“It’s 160,000 refugees in total that Europeans have to take into their arms and I really hope that this time everyone will be on board – no rhetoric, action is what is needed,” said Juncker.

Report Finds Sudanese Government Engaged In Mass Killings, Rapes And Other Atrocities

-
0

Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report today that says a Sudanese government controlled militia group in the country’s war-torn region of Darfur has been carrying out killings, mass rapes of civilians, and other horrendous atrocities over the last one and a half years.

The conflict in Darfur began in 2003 when non-Arab tribes began battling the Arab-led government in Khartoum, saying it was discriminating against them. Although there were mass killings when the conflict began it had eased over the last decade, but now as the non Arab insurgency continues, the Khartoum Government has escalated attacks on the rebels.

The HRW report said most of the atrocities have been committed by Arab fighters from a recently formed sub group of the feared “Janjaweed” brigades that call themselves Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

HRW’s Africa director Daniel Bekele called on the Government to disband the group and bring to justice guilty officials and commanders.

He said “The RSF has killed, raped and tortured civilians in scores of villages in an organized, deliberate, and systematic way,”  

The report’s findings were based on interviews with 212 witnesses and victims.

A United Nations (UN) official said the HRW report catalogued  the “devastating effect” of the government’s campaign against rebel forces. Ironically a joint UN-African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Sudan known as UNAMID has been criticized for failing to adequately protect civilians against a Government with a known policy of genocide in Darfur.

UNAMID has also been accused of keeping back information on violence against peacekeepers and civilians by Sudanese Government controlled forces and militia.

Bekele criticized  the AU and U.N. for  “sitting on their hands” while the RSF continued its atrocities.

In the report HRW cited the January 2015 attacks on the town of Golo,where 21 people interviewed had witnessed rapes, including that of scores of women patients at Golos hospital , killings, and indiscriminate beatings. Many women were raped in front of family and neighbors and those who had resisted had been killed.

In 2014 the  Khartoum based Government kicked UNAMID out of the country for a period of time for investigating an alleged mass rape by its soldiers.

The government has denied any wrongdoing by its forces or militia allies.

Bush Joins Trump In Proposing Tax Changes That Would Hurt The Wealthy

-
0

Presidential candidate Jeb Bush, in a seemingly radical departure from traditional conservative policy, is proposing a tax plan that removes provisions which benefit wealthy Americans.

The plan eliminates a “carried interest” loophole that has been advantageous to hedge fund managers for years.

The announcement comes after rival Donald Trump proposed a similar rule change.

Bush’s proposed plan also reduces corporate taxes and personal income taxes while cutting deductions and certain loopholes which currently benefit America’s wealthiest citizens. The goal of the plan is to spur economic growth by providing companies incentives to invest money domestically while reducing tax burdens on low and middle class families.

According to Bush, an annual economic growth rate of 4% is to be expected.

Bush’s plan involves reducing individual tax brackets from seven to three. Incomes would be taxed at 28%, 25%, and 10%. This plan doubles the standard tax deductions that most taxpayers take. This also ends what is referred to by Republicans as the “death tax” on estates of the deceased. It also makes marriage more beneficial for taxing purposes. Furthermore, the proposal reduces the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%. Bush emphasizes that this is five percentage points below China’s rate.

In order to pay for these tax cuts, Bush says he plans to end the practice of worldwide taxation that has resulted in the trend of “corporate inversions”, or the use of cross-border mergers by companies to benefit from lower rates of taxation abroad. Additionally, Bush plans to assess a one-time tax on corporate cash that is stashed overseas, and he also says that he would eliminate the interest deductions the companies take when they borrow money.

Bush also mentions carried interest. He states that fund managers will no longer be able to benefit from lower interest rates on investments. According to his plan, unless capital is staked in an investment, investors will not be able to claim the capital-gains tax rate on their market gains.

A spokeswoman for Bush’s presidential campaign refused to answer how long Bush projects it would take to reach the expected 4% economic growth. Additionally, the impacts that the tax would have on short term deficits are unclear.

Democrats were quick to attack Bush, stating that the tax strategy would mostly benefit the rich, while imposing new costs on middle class Americans. Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Holly Shulman said, “More massive tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, all while exploding the deficit or shifting the burden onto the middle class — an even more extreme plan than his brother’s.”

National Geographic Positions Itself For The Future By Inking Partnership With 21st Century Fox

-
0
National Geographic Positions Itself For The Future By Inking Partnership With 21st Century Fox

National Geographic is abandoning its nonprofit status and becoming a key part of a new venture between its parent organization and 21st Century Fox. The magazine will be a major part of a new company called National Geographic partners. Fox will own 73% of the company, while the National Geographic Society will own the other 23%. The deal values at $725 million.

The ownership proportions are similar to the ownership split of National Geographic’s television channels. The new deal is referred to as an extension of that partnership, which began 18 years ago.

More than 500 million homes have access to the National Geographic Channel.

21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch said, “We are privileged to have the opportunity to expand our partnership to continue to bring to audiences around the world, ‘The world and all that is in it,’ as National Geographic Society’s second president Alexander Graham Bell stated more than a century ago. We believe in the Society’s mission of bringing the world to audiences through science, education and exploration.”

Chief media office of National Geographic Declan Moore will lead the new media company as its CEO. Moore is a 20 year veteran of National Geographic. The CEO of the National Geographic Society Gary Knell will remain in his current position. Knell said, “We will now have the scale and reach to fulfill our mission long into the future. The Society’s work will be the engine that feeds our content creation efforts, enabling us to share that work with even larger audiences and achieve more impact. It’s a virtuous cycle.”

National Geographic Partners plans to combine the National Geographic cable channels with a list of media properties. According to a news release, these media properties include: National Geographic magazines; National Geographic Studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities, including travel, location-based entertainment, archival sales, catalog, and licensing and ecommerce businesses.

Upon the completion of the deal, the value of the National Geographic Society’s endowment will increase to nearly $1 billion.

Is Yahoo’s CEO Overpaid And Not Being Fired Because She’s Pregnant?

-
0
Is Yahoo’s CEO Overpaid And Not Being Fired Because She’s Pregnant?

During an interview that is sure to draw criticism from women across the nation, Scott Galloway, an outspoken professor of marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business, directly attacked the existence of Yahoo and its CEO, Marissa Mayer.

Specifically, in an interview with Tom Keene on Bloomberg Surveillance, Galloway proffered that Mayer is “the most overpaid CEO in history” and that the reason she has kept her job as the struggling company’s CEO is because she recently announced that is pregnant with twins. He stated that, “If she hadn’t announced that she was pregnant with twins, she’d be out of a job within six months.”

Galloway went even further when he insinuated that Yahoo would face a major backlash if Mayer was fired after her pregnancy announcement. He stated that, “I don’t think any board in America right now in technology that’s as visible as Yahoo wants to be seen as not leaning in. She got a reprieve from death row because she’s pregnant with twins.”

The concept of “leaning in” comes from the book published by Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. The essence of the book is that women need to be more assertive at work and not let biases keep them from pushing forward.

Despite his assessment regarding Mayer’s continued employment due to her pregnancy, Galloway also pointed out that as her tenure as CEO, she has made the most questionable and worst acquisitions in the technology industry and he described Yahoo as simply an “accidental hedge fund” that should die out. “We should put a bullet in the head of this story called Yahoo. It’s time to euthanize this thing.”

In fact, Galloway described Yahoo’s board of directors and its actions as a good lesson in failed corporate governance. He suggested that the company would fare much better if controlled by other management, citing Microsoft as an example.

It is likely that Galloway’s widely publicized comments are not the only driver of Yahoo’s depressed stock price. Yahoo’s stock tanked yesterday after it received bad news regarding its planned tax-free spinoff from Alibaba, China’s equivalent of Amazon. While all hope is not lost for Yahoo’s plans, the IRS declined to provide Yahoo with a “private letter ruling” which essentially would guarantee that the spin-off plan satisfied IRS requirements.

Galloway’s depiction of Mayer is not the only criticism she has received lately. She received an enormous online backlash after she announced that she would return to work two weeks after giving birth to her twins.

The New Apple TV Will Be A Periscope Streaming, Social Gaming Living Room Hub

-
0
The New Apple TV Will Be A Periscope Streaming, Social Gaming Living Room Hub

As traditional game companies Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony have begun to incorporate various video and music streaming services into their consoles, Apple has plans to turn the tables.

New features for its latest iteration of its streaming hardware device Apple TV will include a better graphics processor and a game controller-style remote, again blurring the lines between once separate entertainment modes.

Another key addition will be live-streaming app Periscope, which is also rumored to be working on integration into the new device.

The move could give a much needed boost in visibility to the Twitter-owned company and its ten million strong user base.

The Periscope app allows users to broadcast a live video stream to their followers, who can then communicate with the broadcaster in real time. With the addition of Periscope to Apple TV, users would more easily be able to view live streams from their television, though they will not be able to broadcast with their Apple TV, which lacks a built-in camera.

New features for the device will also include a touch-based remote, increased storage, and Siri integration. Yes, that means your days of typing searches into Apple TV or using iOS Remote are over.

The price tag for the new box may be up to $149, which would place it much higher than competitor Roku 3 ($99), which also has voice search capability, but no gaming function. If history is any guide, Apple aficionados will likely have no issue with this price point.

Although gaming has become more mainstream due to its increased availability on smartphones and other mobile devices, Apple could further boost the phenomenon with the new device.

The addition of its gaming function puts the new Apple TV into the “microconsole” category, which is a title that was created by the serious gamer community. All previous entrants into the microconsole market have not done too well, including the PlayStation TV and Nvidia Shield. Outside of the gamer community, however, these companies lack the brand awareness of Apple, which means it could become a force to be reckoned with in the living room.

UK Set To Debate Legalization Of Marijuana After Petition By Citizens

-
0

The British Parliament will next month begin debating whether or not marijuana will be legalized according to a Government official.

He said beginning Monday, October 12th, Members of Parliament (MPs) will debate a proposal which seeks to make the “production, sale and use of cannabis legal.”

The debate, which will be led by legal marijuana proponent and member of Parliament’s petitions committee Labour MP Paul Flynn, is in response to an official petition on the Parliament website which garnered 211,000 signatures.

Flynn has in the past called for the legalisation of medical marijuana, introducing bills in 1999, as well as supporting another in partnership with Liberal Democrat  MP Tom Brake in 2008.

Political experts say the upcoming debate will most probably not lead to current marijuana law changes, but it could put pressure on the Government to change its relatively hardline against marijuana.

In its official response to the petition, the Government said  “Substantial scientific evidence shows cannabis is a harmful drug that can damage human health. There are no plans to legalise cannabis as it would not address the harm to individuals and communities” , adding legalisation would “send the wrong message”.

When pressed by media to make a comment on whether the Government believed marijuana was more harmful than alcohol, no response was forthcoming.

A recent study published in the U.S, which British marijuana legalization activists cite frequently, found that marijuana users were no more likely than non users to suffer mental health problems including psychosis or depression.

The political director of the British United Patients alliance Jon Liebling, a pro-medical cannabis lobby, said: “We urge all of our MPs to participate in an informed, pragmatic, evidence-based, compassionate debate resulting at the very least in allowing sick people a legitimate, effective medicine that vastly improves their quality of life without fear of criminalisation.”

Over recent years the UK has bucked the international trend of  many developed countries either legalizing or  decriminalizing marijuana use, by actually tightening restrictions.  Six years ago the Government moved its classification of marijuana back to a Class B drug, which means anyone prosecuted for possessing marijuana can face a five year prison sentence, while suppliers can get 14 years.

Auto Industry In Three Countries Mounts Attack On Secret TPP Agreement Over Unfair Japanese Imports

-
0

Auto industry representatives from Canada, the U.S., and Mexico are pushing for better protections for their domestic car makers in the super-secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), as negotiations between Japan and the three nations commence this week.

TPP talks in July were derailed partly due to the discovery of a secret deal between the U.S. and Japan about the auto industry matter.

At issue is a U.S.-Japan agreement that cars and car parts that are sold duty-free in TPP member countries would require just 45% and 30% domestic content, respectively. Canada and Mexico were not party to this agreement, and have now issued a letter to the trade representatives of their countries along with the U.S. that is pushing for a domestic content rule of 50% for both cars and car parts.

The September 8th letter warns that there are three million jobs in the industry at stake, and that the industry accounts for 20% of all trade between the three nations. Current duty-free rules between the three countries mandates that 60% of a light-duty vehicle in addition to a similar percentage for car parts, must be made in Canada, the U.S., or Mexico.

The loss of the manufacturing sector is just as big of an issue in Canada, as it is in the U.S. and plans are being made to continue TPP negotiations in the run up to the October election there. Such a move is controversial, but was justified as being necessary in order to protect Canada’s interests. Normally, matters of state are not dealt with during what is called Canada’s “caretaker mode,” during which period elected officials are restricted in their abilities and are supposed to conduct routine matters only until the election has passed.

Public sentiment in the U.S. on the TPP has been negative in overall, with a July New York Times/CBS poll showing that 63% of the U.S. public believes in using protectionist trade policies in order to help domestic industries, and only 30% stating that free trade should be supported without conditions.

Poor Laws And Abusive Corporations Are Forcing Americans To Fight For The ‘Right To Repair’

-
0

As companies continue to infuse technology into even the most mundane of household appliances there is an ever growing battle over what can and should be done in the event a product breaks.

Do consumers automatically run to the store to purchase a new product or do they attempt to repair the old one?

While this may seem like a decision for consumers, many manufacturers and retailers limit our choices by controlling and limiting repair plans and the availability of necessary replacement parts. Some companies even utilize digital software locks to prevent consumers from making repairs.

This mostly is experienced in the realm of mobile phones, televisions, and the like but its also creeping into things like cars and appliances due to increased levels of technology. While televisions are not made like they used to be, and while older TV models are simply unacceptable when compared with new high definition TVs, the old ones lasted much longer – even decades longer.

When an old TV broke, people mainly had them repaired rather than purchase a new one.

That is not the case anymore. To many people, the option of simply buying a new product is easier and less time consuming than having the old one repaired. Especially when prices of technology come down after time. (Remember when a DVD player cost $500?)

Yet many consumers still wish to retain their independence and repair devices, especially big ticket items like cars or appliance.

This increased demand for repair services is being noticed by businesses and the options for repairing your broken technology are greater than we thought. The Internet is making it more difficult for manufacturers and retailers to push consumers into simply purchasing a new product or face unending headaches.

A good example of this is iPhone screens, which notoriously crack. Visit a college campus and you’ll find at least a half dozen stores that specialize in repairing cracked screens and broken phone cases.

Some service providers even offer do-it-yourself kits for fixing a certain problem. The growing number of these providers illustrates that consumers wish to do what they choose rather than be forced to make a new purchase.

At least when the option is available.

Increasingly manufacturers are resorting to courts to block your ability to repair your purchased products, using legal tools such as the infamous Digital Millennium Copyright Act, meaning that even though you’ve bought something you don’t have the right to fix it.

As technology, and with it software locks and other dirty tricks to prevent repair, creeps into nearly every major purchase a consumer makes expect there to be an ongoing battle for consumers to keep the right to repair.

For more information on this topic visit Right To Repair

Puerto Rico Is About To Run Out Of Money And Nobody Knows What To Do

-
0
Puerto Rico Is About To Run Out Of Money And Nobody Knows What To Do

In the very near future, Puerto Rico is expected to run out of money. The island is facing a $13 billion shortfall over the next several years. Making matters worse, reports indicate that the Puerto Rican Treasury’s single cash account and Government Development Bank are expected to deplete their remaining available liquidity prior to the year’s end. This is extremely concerning, as Puerto Rico is essentially married to the dollar, and the island cannot print its own currency.

The Puerto Rican government plans to manage the issue by consolidating its education department, restructuring its Department of Economics Development, and establishing a fiscal oversight board. However, the public is not happy with the plan, as it will certainly affect the livelihood of many citizens. For instance, many government employees will have their salaries frozen, and transportation expenses are certain to increase resulting in rising prices throughout the island.

This news comes as only 40% of the working population is currently employed, and island pensions face unfunded liabilities that were more than $37 billion in 2013. However, the situation is so dire that reductions in spending must inevitably take place. It is unknown how exactly much debt will be able to be cut by reducing government spending. But things do not appear positive, as the government expects to run out of money by next May or June.

The plan to reduce spending will be difficult to put into action, as it will face heavy resistances from various unions and creditors who will try to cling to their current statuses. But with roughly $47 billion dollars of debt, there is very little Puerto Rico can do about the situation. Of that figure, $18 billion is due within the next five years. The budget gap is estimated to be $28 billion by the end of this time period. Reform measures can reduce this figure to roughly $13 billion.

It is the citizens of Puerto Rico who will suffer from a tightened budget. Negotiations with creditors are expected to be very difficult. Additionally, the education industry will be greatly affected. Action will be taken by closing schools, altering teacher pensions, and reducing subsidies to the University of Puerto Rico. Tax laws are also expected to be changed, and healthcare costs will be scrutinized.

However, the possibility of a bailout lingers. One proposal states that Puerto Rico should pressure the United States government for assistance. Unfortunately for Puerto Rico, a bailout is not expected to occur at the present time. But the situation could change if the Puerto Rican public responds aggressively to the proposed budget cuts. The issue could even come into play for the 2016 presidential election.

Our Obsession With Caffeine Is Starting To Turn Dangerous

-
0

For Americans, caffeine is quickly becoming a potentially dangerous obsession. Gone are the days where a caffeine fix came from a simple cup of coffee or day. Today, caffeine comes in a wide variety of formulations.

Energy drinks, pills, and even gum are replacing more traditional methods. Perhaps most alarming is pure powdered caffeine, which can be purchased for as little as $10 per pound. One teaspoon of the powder contains the same amount of caffeine as about 28 cups of coffee.

Yet such potency can be dangerous.

In recent years, thousands of people have overdosed on caffeine, while others have suffered through experiences of addiction and withdrawal.

In the most extreme cases, deaths have resulted.

One 14 year old with a heart condition went into cardiac arrest after consuming two heavily caffeinated energy drinks within a 24 hour period.

A 19 year old individual from Connecticut died upon consuming a dozen caffeine pills.

A healthy teen from Ohio died upon ingesting powdered caffeine.

With all of these cases, the Food and Drug Administration has started to warn consumers about the associated risks of caffeinated products. They are also urging manufacturers to reconsider how their products are marketed.

The FDA began investigating the phenomenon in 2012 after 13 people died using the popular supplement 5-Hour Energy.

The popular product contains caffeine along with other ingredients. In 2013, the agency pressured gum manufacturer Wrigley into discontinuing its caffeinated gum. Most recently, the FDA has issued warnings to five distributors of powdered caffeine. The FDA says that pure powdered caffeine is dangerous and presents a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury to consumers.

Caffeine is a bitter white alkaloid that is naturally found in the beans, leaves, and fruit of more than 60 plants. It is the most widely consumed psychoactive agent worldwide. Roughly 85% of Americans are believed to consume caffeine at least once per day. Many of these individuals are children, some of whom aren’t even in kindergarten. Taken in moderation, caffeine poses little to no risk. In fact, certain studies have found that the consumption of caffeine can reduce the risk of diseases such as Parkinson’s and cancer. However, excessive consumption can be deadly.

Hospital have reported an increase in caffeine-related cases in recent years. From January 1st to July 31st this year, poison centers across the country have reported 1,675 cases involving energy drinks. Nearly two-thirds of these cases were from children under the age of 18. Furthermore, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5, listed “caffeine withdrawal” as a legitimate medical disorder.

Overall, it doesn’t appear that the usage of caffeine will be slowing down anytime soon. However, it is important to be careful when consuming the popular legal stimulant in all its newly created forms.

For The First Time Ever Scientists Know Just How Many Trees Exist On Earth

-
0

While there are millions of trees on our planet an accurate estimate of the precise number has never been known. That is until a recent study published in Nature revealed that there are currently over three trillion trees on Earth, which is more than seven times greater than previous estimates.

With this more accurate picture of the world’s forests, scientists will be able to improve climate research, as well as deforestation tracking.

Thomas Crowther of Yale’s School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, who was lead author of the study, was able to arrive at the new estimate by establishing a relationship between satellite imagery and first-hand tallies of trees in the areas where such records existed. From there it was simply a matter of applying this relationship to the satellite imagery for areas that have no first-hand data.

The highest areas of tree density are those of North America and Eurasia, whereas the tropics have the largest overall forested area, containing some 43% of the world’s trees. Scientists state that there are currently 46% fewer trees than when human civilization occurred, with numbers continuing to drop at a rapid rate.

The research has great potential for improved education on deforestation, which may eventually lead to better efforts to reverse it. The phenomenon has many impacts, from wildlife habitat destruction, to its effect on the water cycle. For example, the rainforests of the tropics provide about 30% of the world’s fresh water by the method of transpiration, which is the movement of water from a tree’s leaves to the atmosphere. This same mechanism also removes heat from forested areas, and transports it via the resulting water vapor.

One other effect of forests as it relates to climate change, is their function as a carbon sink, storing over two billion tons of carbon each year, according to a US Forest Service study. This is equivalent to one third of global carbon emissions. The forests may not be able to maintain their current rate of carbon absorption, however, which would cause an increase in the rate of global warming.

Having Just Agreed To Nuclear Deal, Iran’s Supreme Leader Declares Israel Will Not Exist In 25 Years

-
0

Opponents of the U.S. Iran nuclear deal were handed a ‘I told you so’ gift today when Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that Israel will not exist in 25 years.

In an address to the Iranian people Iran’s leader said “I’d say to Israel that they will not see the end of these 25 years. God willing, there will be no such thing as a Zionist regime in 25 years. Until then, struggling, heroic and jihadi morale will leave no moment of serenity for Zionists.”

Experts say the reference to 25 years most probably referred to the monitoring of the country’s nuclear program for 25 years which is a stipulation of the Iran nuclear deal which will see the lifting of sanctions on the country in return for the monitoring.

In his address, Khamenei also said he had only approved negotiations with the U.S.on the nuclear monitoring issue and that he would not be allowing further talks with the U.S. on any other topics.

“The Americans want negotiations with Iran as a means to infiltrate into the country and impose their will,” he said. “The Americans don’t hide their hostility towards Iran: One of them smiles, and at the same time, others take measures against Iran.”

Khamenei continued his vitriol towards the U.S, with “There are those in Iran who insist to dress the Great Satan America in costumes, and paint it as an angel. We’ve expelled the Satan (the U.S.) out the door, it is forbidden for us to permit him to enter through the window.”

Yesterday U.S. President Barack Obama won a major victory in the congressional war over the Iran nuclear deal by gaining 41 Senate votes, which potentially enables a filibuster to preventing a vote on a Republican backed resolution to throw out the agreement.

With the majority of Senate Democrats in favor of the deal, its supporters can stop the disapproval resolution in its tracks in the Senate, thereby avoiding the need for a veto from Obama.

Psychedelic Drugs Are Making A Comeback As A Medical Treatment For PTSD

-
0

Although it has been around for decades, LSD has recently come back into the spotlight as medical researchers assess its potential as a therapeutic drug, along with other psychedelic compounds. Studies with these compounds are now being conducted to determine their effectiveness in treating conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and addiction.

Scientists were sure to mention that this would not be a standalone therapy, and would be administered under controlled conditions. As the negative perceptions of the drug have faded away, the research done in the 50s and 60s is also making a comeback.

Because LSD and other psychedelic compounds can dramatically affect one’s perception of reality, they have sometimes resulted in people harming themselves or experiencing psychosis, thus contributing to its negative perception.

Yet these rare incidents delayed valuable research on the drugs, like studies that have shown psychedelic mushrooms to be an effective treatment for alcoholism.

Dr. Matthew Johnson of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine stated, “Keep in mind that it’s different in many ways than what we may see in an abuse setting—when people come to the ER experiencing negative effects of these compounds.”

A small study at UCLA found LSD was effective at reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms, effects which persisted long-term in those individuals. Dr. Johnson commented, “We’re not talking about acute change in mood while the drug is in effect. People seem to have major shifts in their perspective, that is evidence going forward long-term.”

Johnson also pointed to an American study using MDMA to treat PTSD, which currently doesn’t have any effective treatments. The results of the MDMA study were excellent, and similarly strong results were shown in the treatment of end-of-life anxiety and depression, results that exceeded those achieved using approved medications. Johnson added, “Across the board we’re seeing some impressive results, certainly worthy of careful follow up.”

If further studies show that these drugs are indeed effective treatments, FDA approval may still be a long way off, both due to the perceptions of these drugs, as well as the requirement to conduct much larger studies.

Russian Troops Are Now In Syria And Its Making The Middle East Nervous

-
0
Russian Troops Are Now In Syria And Its Making The Middle East Nervous

After weeks of denial, Russian authorities have confirmed for the first time that their forces are indeed in Syria. Russia’s presence has been seen by many as an attempt to scuttle anti-terror efforts in the wake of an increased purge of ISIS in recent weeks. The move could compromise anti-terrorism in the region.

On Wednesday, Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed the presence of their military experts in the country. The statement further indicated that the men were only there to provide expert help in the fight against terror.

Zakharova said the experts were helping in the delivery of Russian arms to the Syrian military. The assistance, according to Moscow, would prove instrumental in the fight against ISIS. The statement did not give the number of Russian military forces present.

The disclosure comes barely a day after Syria’s information minister openly denied reports that Moscow had its men on Syrian soil. Omran al-Zoubi said such reports were “concocted in Western intelligence circles” to show Syria was too weak to handle its own internal wars and that president Bashar Assad, whom President Barrack Obama’s administration wants ousted, was ineffective against terror.

Intelligence reports have also noted increased air traffic from Russia to Syria. Some of these tracked flights involved the Antonov An-124, Russia’s largest military cargo plane, landing in Latakia, Syria, where Russia’s military men are stationed.

Alarmed by Russia’s growing presence in the Middle Eastern country, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on Russia’s Foreign Ministry head Sergey Lavrov to make known “concerns” over the “imminent” buildup of Russian forces.

The U.S. has also called upon Greece and Bulgaria to deny Russian military flights overflight access, a move Russia termed as amounting to “international boorishness.” Bulgarian authorities have since denied Russia overflight access while Greece Foreign Ministry spokesperson Constantinos Koutras said on Monday that the country was considering such a move.

The call by Kerry to Lavrov now indicates the U.S. administration is taking things seriously with Russia’s involvement. Lavrov on his part, confirmed the cooperation between Moscow and Assad’s regime, saying Moscow “has never concealed that it delivers military equipment to official Syrian authorities with the aim of combating terrorism.”

Currently, a 37 country alliance stands to fight the war against ISIS insurgents in Syria. However, Russia’s on-the-ground presence has raised concern as their motive, aside from the forwarded “fight against terror” cliché, largely remains unknown. This may mean bad news for those actually combatting terror groups in the Middle East.

McDonald’s Announces Plans To Switch To Cage Free Eggs

-
0

Over the next decade, McDonald’s plans to make the transition to cage free eggs in the United States and Canada. The burger chain is trying to reinvent itself as a “modern, progressive burger company” according to CEO Steve Easterbrook. Additionally, the company plans to switch to using chickens that have been raised without most antibiotics. The decision shows that McDonald’s is making a stronger effort to consider concerns about animal welfare by consumers.

Other leading restaurant chains, such as Chipotle, have been putting pressure on McDonald’s and other companies to make such a transition through their own environmental practices.

Battery cages have long been under fire by animal activists. These cages confine hens in spaces which give them virtually no space to move around. The Humane Society of the United States has been pressuring McDonald’s to make the switch to cage free eggs for over ten years. The group’s vice-president of farm and animal protection Paul Shapiro says “It makes it clearer than ever that cages just do not have a future in the egg industry.”

Industry regulations have been making it more urgent for restaurants to make the switch to cage free eggs. For example, a recent California law now mandates that laying hens be provided with sufficient room to stretch, turn around, and flap their wings. Subway and Starbucks are also planning to switch to cage free eggs.

The United Egg Producers state that only around 6% of the nation’s egg-laying hens are cage free. However, CEO of the group Chad Gregory says that the figure should rise in the near future. Currently, less than 1% of the eggs used by McDonald’s are cage free.

Senior vice president of the North American supply chain at McDonald’s Marion Gross says that the company is now working with its current egg suppliers in order to convert housing systems for hens.

Gross believes that the transition will be truly meaningful to customers. “They know how big we are, and the impact we can make on the industry,” Gross said. The change will have a major impact at McDonald’s, as the chain plans to begin offering select breakfast items all day in the United States. Whether the changes are enough to stop a rising tide of competitors squeezing the very concept of the burger chain remains to be seen.

1...838485...154Page 84 of 154
© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv